Selecting the Right Digital Video Recorder

So your best buddy has the latest digital video recorder (DVR) and you're thinking it might be a good idea to get one for yourself. How do you choose what's right for you? Before you spend money to match what someone else has got, do a little assessment on your viewing needs. • Assess your budget. You can spend as little as $100 on a model and a low monthly subscription fee or over $1000 on a high end DVR. • Zone in on your goals. If you're a pack rat and you want to record and keep your shows on a DVD, get a DVR that lets you do that with a built-in DVD recorder. If you just want to watch a show you've missed and then move on, a DVR along the lines of TiVo or ReplayTV would work for you. • Match your Digital Video Recorder with your subscription service. Whether you've got cable or satellite TV will help determine the DVR you get. In fact, most services will provide you with their own DVR options to choose from with a nominal additional monthly subscription fee.